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thomphoto
Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts: 188
Age: 75
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky
Points: 1313
Registration date: 2009-06-11
 |  Subject: Fork Tube socket size  Thu Sep 09, 2010 11:55 am | |
| Can someone tell me the socket size of the fork cap bolt on the fork tube. The one that you remove to drain the fork oil. I'm installing the HyperPros and need to get an impact wrench socket.
Thanks,
Wendell |
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bigbird
Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts: 2160
Location: Winnipeg Canada
Points: 3057
Registration date: 2010-05-02
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:24 pm | |
| | thomphoto wrote: | Can someone tell me the socket size of the fork cap bolt on the fork tube. The one that you remove to drain the fork oil. I'm installing the HyperPros and need to get an impact wrench socket.
Thanks,
Wendell |
Your timing is impeccable. I am doing the same job either later today or tomorrow. I will be loosening my caps while the forks are still on the Swing (my front cover is off for other work), so I have to use a wrench. I checked this morning and it's a rather loose fitting 22mm. I didn't have a 21mm wrench so I borrowed one to make sure. It's definitely not 21mm. I may just use a Crescent wrench, as the 22mm combination has too much free play for my liking. Anyone else find the fork caps to be a loose fitting 22mm? |
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GaryL
Super Scooter Rider
Number of posts: 237
Age: 59
Location: Casa Grande, Arizona
Points: 943
Registration date: 2010-07-09
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:40 pm | |
| Could it be a (GASP) ENGLISH size!? Something like 7/8ths inch or so? I don't have a conversion chart, but I know that a 15/16ths box wrench fits the oil drain plug perfectly. |
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bigbird
Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts: 2160
Location: Winnipeg Canada
Points: 3057
Registration date: 2010-05-02
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 2:44 pm | |
| | GaryL wrote: | | Could it be a (GASP) ENGLISH size!? Something like 7/8ths inch or so? I don't have a conversion chart, but I know that a 15/16ths box wrench fits the oil drain plug perfectly. |
No, I already tried that. |
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edbancro
Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts: 158
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Points: 1115
Registration date: 2009-10-30
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:17 pm | |
| | bigbird wrote: | | thomphoto wrote: | Can someone tell me the socket size of the fork cap bolt on the fork tube. The one that you remove to drain the fork oil. I'm installing the HyperPros and need to get an impact wrench socket.
Thanks,
Wendell |
Your timing is impeccable. I am doing the same job either later today or tomorrow. I will be loosening my caps while the forks are still on the Swing (my front cover is off for other work), so I have to use a wrench. I checked this morning and it's a rather loose fitting 22mm. I didn't have a 21mm wrench so I borrowed one to make sure. It's definitely not 21mm. I may just use a Crescent wrench, as the 22mm combination has too much free play for my liking. Anyone else find the fork caps to be a loose fitting 22mm? |
I don't remember what size I used (definitely metric, sounds like it was probably a 22mm), but, whatever size it was, I don't remember thinking it was too loose or wanting something in-between. I definitely used a 6-point socket, if you're using a 12-point then it might feel looser.
I would strongly recommend using a socket or closed end wrench (preferably 6-point) over an open end or Crescent wrench whenever feasible: A socket or closed-end grabs on all 6 sides, Crescent or open-end only grabs on 2, so you run a lower risk of rounding off the cap with a closed-end or socket. I think most good 6-point sockets, particularly impacts, have a little rounded cut-out at the corners (do a Google image search and you can see what I mean). That design applies force to the sides of the nut rather than the corners, which reduces round-off. |
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bigbird
Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts: 2160
Location: Winnipeg Canada
Points: 3057
Registration date: 2010-05-02
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 3:20 pm | |
| | edbancro wrote: | | I think most good 6-point sockets, particularly impacts, have a little rounded cut-out at the corners (do a Google image search and you can see what I mean). That design applies force to the sides of the nut rather than the corners, which reduces round-off. |
Snap-On calls their design Flank Drive. Since their patent expired, all reputable tool manufacturers use this design for their sockets.
The torque on the fork cap is only 17 ft.lbs. I would think that rounding of the bolt wouldn't be a problem. It's not like they're cranked on like lug nuts. |
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edbancro
Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts: 158
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Points: 1115
Registration date: 2009-10-30
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 7:12 pm | |
| | bigbird wrote: | | The torque on the fork cap is only 17 ft.lbs. I would think that rounding of the bolt wouldn't be a problem. It's not like they're cranked on like lug nuts. |
True, it's probably not a big concern, but they are aluminum, so a light touch is in order - don't go manhandling it or try to show off by torquing it to 18 ft-lb  |
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thomphoto
Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts: 188
Age: 75
Location: Owensboro, Kentucky
Points: 1313
Registration date: 2009-06-11
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:03 pm | |
| Thanks to all of you for the great information. Is it possible to loosen the cap while the forks are still intact without taking off the front tupperware? I have an impact wrench and planned on using that after I take the forks off. I'll try the metric 22 and see if that works. Seems like the manual would specify the nut sizes, but doesn't. |
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edbancro
Maxi-Scooter Rider
Number of posts: 158
Location: Western Pennsylvania
Points: 1115
Registration date: 2009-10-30
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 8:10 pm | |
| | thomphoto wrote: | | Is it possible to loosen the cap while the forks are still intact without taking off the front tupperware? I have an impact wrench and planned on using that after I take the forks off. |
I don't know for sure, but it doesn't seem likely - there's probably too much other stuff in the way. You might try removing the right glove box and/or the handle bar covers (i.e., the easier parts) and see how it looks from there. Getting them apart won't be an issue with the impact - but the reassembly is tricky without a vise. |
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bigbird
Silver Wing Guru
Number of posts: 2160
Location: Winnipeg Canada
Points: 3057
Registration date: 2010-05-02
| | Subject: Re: Fork Tube socket size Thu Sep 09, 2010 9:41 pm | |
| | thomphoto wrote: | | Is it possible to loosen the cap while the forks are still intact without taking off the front tupperware? |
I concur with Edbranco. Next to impossible to loosen or tighten the fork caps in place without the front cover removed.
You'll likely need somebody or something to hold each fork while you compress the new springs to get the threading of the caps started.
There was a real good suggestion here awhile ago regarding plcacing the forks in a vise. Don't clamp any part of the fork in the vise directly. They suggested wrapping lots of masking tape around each fork. Over the masking tape put 2 gear driven hose clamps. Tighten the clamps over the masking tape. Place the screw heads of the gear clamps between the jaws of the vice. That way you'll be squeezing the screw heads and not the forks themselves. |
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